Machine for performing putting-out or analogous operations on hides or skins



Nov. 21, 1950 D. EDGAR I 2,530,573

MACHINE FOR PERFORMING PUTTING-OUT 0R ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS ON HIDES OR SKINS Filed March 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 21, 1950 D. EDGAR 2,530,573

MACHINE FOR PERFORMING PUTTING-OUT OR ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS ON HIDES OR SKINS Filed March 25, 1949 [nvenior David [0 Patented Nov. 21 1950 MACHINE FOR PERFORMING PUTTING-OUT OR ANALOGOUS OPERATIONS ON HIDES OR SKINS David Edgar, Lynn, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application March 23, 1949, Serial No. 82,984

11 Claims.

1 This invention relates to machines for treating sheet materials, and more particularly to a machine for putting out hides and skins. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of the same general type as that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,366,242, ranted on January 2, 1945, in the name of David Edgar. The desired functions of such a machine are to remove water from hides consecutively presented in spread-out condition on a support, smooth th grain, and stretch and flatten the hides uniformly despite the irregular contours of such work pieces. It is to be understood that the term hide is used in this specification and in the appended claims to include both hides and skins. Although the invention is principally directed to a machine for putting-out, it is clear that fleshing or dehairin may be performed by that same machine.

Machines of the type illustrated in the patent referred to perform the putting-out operations successfully but some difficulties are pronounced when certain types of hides are treated. When a work piece is particularly soft or flexible, there is a tendency for the machine to pull the work piece bodily to one side or the other with a consequent lack in uniformity of treatment and possible foldin and consequent damage. This tendency is accentuated when an operator is careless in placing a given hide on the work support or conveyor belt used for introducing the work into the machine in such a manner that work is not fed into the approximate center of the treatment zone. The spreading action of the tools is thus not availed of to the extent desired. In a given situation wherein the work is fed too much to one side of the treatment zone, some of the tools employed may exert an excessive pull on the hide and other tools which are supposed simultaneously to treat that hide may completely lose contact with the hide. Such action is obviously not desirable. It has been noted also that variations in thickness of a given work piece sometimes gave rise to irregular treatment. In addition, as the major volume or portion of a hide is in its central section, most of the water to be removed is found in that section, and for this reason, some undesired water content was not removed from the hide even when the action of the tools was uniformly exerted on all parts of the work piece.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine in which the above-mentioned difficulties are avoided-a machine in which a hide in spread-out condition may be conveyed through a treatment zone, treated substantially uniformly by tools having a spreading action, and rendered free of excess water in its central section.

A feature of the invention is a roller, preferably covered with a soft or absorbent material, which is arranged directly in front of the work treating and spreading zone of the machine and beneath which a work piece is pressed as it is fed to that zone. Another feature is a roller, also preferably covered with a soft or absorbent material, arranged directly in back of the work treating zone and adapted to press the work piece against its support as it is discharged from that zone. Still another feature resides in the resiliently mounted tools arranged to operate in the treating zone and acting outwardly in diverging directions to create a uniform spreading effect on the work piece.

The above and other features of the invention, including novel details of construction and combinations of parts will now be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan View, partially in section, of the main elements of the machine as located in the Work treatment zone;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the work treating tools and its manner of support;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one of the rollers shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of another roller also shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through any one of the sets of diverging working tools.

In order to simplify and explain the disclosure it may be said that the present invention is illustrated as incorporated in a machine substantially similar in all respects to the machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,366,242 except for the omission of the bladed work treating tools along the median line of the conveyor belt, the substitution for those tools of two felt-covered rolls, and a change in the mounting for the work treating tools. The novel cooperation of the parts herein disclosed in a machine of the type considered is such as to contribute to smoothness of operation of the machine and more uniform treatment of the work as well as a better removal of the water from the work.

As disclosed in the Patent No. 2,366,242 an endless conveyor belt is utilized with one horizontal run thereof being supported by a vertically movable table by'means of which a given work piece in spread-out condition may be fed through a treatment zone. Sets of putting-out blades are mounted on the links of power-driven endless chains and these sets are arranged to operate in diverging directions upon a work piece supported by the conveyor belt and table when the table is in raised position. The sets of tools are placed in what maybe termed an X-formation to bring about the uniform spreading action on each work piece.

As in the machine of the patent, a holding roll In (Fig. 1) is preferably but not necessarily utilized. If used, it is mounted to extend through the work treatment zone of the machine and to rest upon a work piece being fed beneath it on a conveyor belt II. This holding roll I is not essential when the features of the present invention are used but its use is preferred as it defi nitely contributes to the proper holding of the work piece in position on and in relation to the conveyor belt I I during treatment thereof.

The diverging sets I2, [4, I6 and i8 are provided with blades 20, each blade being attached by means of a thin metal plate 22 (Fig. 2) and bolts 24, 25, 26 and 28 to an endless chain 38. Every other set of side links 32 is of special construction and is adapted to support a blade 20. Two .of such sets are shownin Fig. 2 and each of such sets is elongated to form an extension .34 and supporting base 36 to which the spring 22 .may be attached by the bolts and .28. The lower edge 40 of the blade 20 is beveled to form a cutting or putting-out edge and the arrangement of each blade with respect to its chain 38 is such that the water contacting that blade 29 will flow outwardly-that is, to one side of the chain and towards the edge of the conveyor belt ll. This flow is brought about by locating the blade 26, which is in the form of an angle bar, in such position that it is at a slight angle with the chain as considered in the plan view of Fig. 1. All the blades 20 of a given chain 30 are in parallel relation as shown in Fig. l but it is to be understood that Fig. 1 sh w e l des 5 on the upper or idle runs of the chainsand that the inclination of the blades '20 with respect to the lower runs will be the reverse of that shown in Fig. 1 for the upper blades.

As in the patented machine, the sets i2, 4, l6 and I8 are driven by means of shafts 50 and 52, gears 54 and 56 and other elements, the latter not being shown in the present drawings.

Also, as in the machine of the patent, the upper run of the endless conveyor beit II is supported on a table 62 (Figs. 3, 4 and .5) which is vertically movable to press or support a work piece on the conveyor belt ll against the blades 20 when the table 82 is in raised position.

The machine is provided with two stationary and horizontal frame members Hi and 12 (Fig. l) which serve as supports for the inner ends of the tool sets l2, i4, i6 and [8. These members 19 and 12 also guide two felt covered rolls M and '16 by means of downwardly extending brackets 73, I9, 80 and 8!. The brackets 78 and 15 are each bolted to a frame member '16 or 2 and at their lower ends they support a shaft 82. Two levers 84 and 8B are joined together by a hub 88 journaled on the shaft 82 and also by a bar 98 and a shaft 92 upon which the roller I4 is journaled. Springs 94 and 95 (Fig. 1) are attached at their lower ends to the bar 93 and at their upper ends to. hooks (only one hook ldi! isshown in the drawings) attached to a stationary portion 93 (Fig. 3) of the main machine frame. An a m I02. is attached to the lever and this arm is provided at its upper end with a stop screw lot to con itute an djustable p rranged to contact the bracket 18.

Th roller 16 is also felt-covered as heretofore explained and it is journaled on a shaft HG attached to the two levers H2 and IN. which levers are joined tog-ether by means of a hub HE and a bar H8. The roller 16 is constructed and arranged to rise and fall with the table 62, resting at all times either on the belt H or a work piece being discharged as will be further explained.

In operation a work piece (not shown) is placed upon the conveyor belt I l and is fed through the work treating zone, 1. e., beneath the work treating tool sets l2, l4, l6 and la in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. In beginning the treatment of a work piece the work table 62 is assumed to be in its lowered position (Fig. 3). The leading edge of the work piece therefore easily passes beneath the roller 14 without that roller interfering with its spread-out condition. The roller 14 is held clear of the leading portion of the work piece because of the action of the stop member or stop screw I04. When the work piece has entered to a substantial extent into the zone of all four work treating tool sets, then the table 62 will rise and press the work piece against the tools 20 which have already been set in motion. Each thin metal plate or spring 22 will yield slightly as the work is pressed against the corresponding blade 20. The springs 22, thus loaded, will hold the blades 29 with sufiicient force against the work to bring about the desired putting-out action. When the table rises the rollers 14 will press the work piece against the conveyor belt and displace some of the water from the central portion of the work Piece, the springs 94 and 96 aiding in bringing about the requisite pressure. The holding roll IB is preferably used to assist in maintaining the proper position of the work piece during its treatment.

The roller 18 is free to move up and down with the table and no clearance need be provided between the conveyor belt and the roller 76 for entrance of the leading edge of the work piece as the tool sets Hi and I6 maintain the leading portions of the work piece in stretched-out condition. The work piece therefore enters the bite between the roller 18 and the conveyor 60 without undue distortion and the roller '16 serves to displace and remove still more water from the central portion of the work piece.

When the work piece has been adequately treated by the blades 26 and leaves the zone of effective action by the sets l2 and i8, the table 62 is caused to lower (the upper run of the belt H lowering with it) and the work piece is discharged from the machine with the absorbent roller 16 continuing its water removal action until it crosses the trailing edge of the work piece.

The water squeezed out of the work piece by the bladed tools and the rollers '14 and 16 remains on the conveyor belt and is transferred away from the work treating zone before the next work piece is introduced for treatment. This water is removed from the belt by a suitable scraper (not shown) or by some other means located at the work discharge end of the machine. Tne absorbent material of rollers I4 and 76 does remove some water from a given work piece by its absorbent action and then deposits that water on the belt 51 but the primary purpose of the absorbent material is to cushion the rollers and avoid injury to the hide surfaces as the rollers press out or squeeze out the water by their mechanical action.

With a machine such as disclosed the spring loaded blades 25 and the resiliently mounted rollers 1c and 76 all cooperate to maintain the spread-out condition of the work piece during treatment and without undue displacement thereof, and this action is had despite variations in thicknesses or other. inequalities of the different portions of the work treated.

Having described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, a work-feeding means on said frame having a supporting surface for a work piece to be treated, means for moving said surface substantially horizontally and in a given direction beheath a work treatment zone, tools mounted on said frame to impart a spreading efiect on said work piece from a central portion of said zone, and an absorbent roller arranged directly in front of said central portion yieldingly to contact said work piece and resist bodily displacement of the work piece from the line of feed.

2. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, a work-feeding means on said frame having a supporting surface for a work piece to be treated, means for moving said surface substantially horizontally and in a given direction beneath a work treatment zone, tools mount-ed in X formation on said frame to impart a spreading effect on said work piece from a central portion of said zone, and absorbent rollers arranged directly in front and in back of said central portion yieldingly to contact said work piece as it passes through said zone.

3. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, a work-feeding means on said frame with a supporting surface for a work piece to be treated, means for moving said surf-ace in given direction beneath a work treatment zone, tools mounted in X formation on said frame to spread out said work piece from a central portion of said zone, and a roller with an absorbent covering arranged directly in front of said central portion to contact and yieldingly press said work piece against said surface as it passes through said zone.

4. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, a work-feeding means on said frame having a supporting surface for Work piece to be treated, means for moving said surface substantially horizontally and in a given direction beneath a Work treatment zone, spring-loaded tools mounted on said frame to impart a spread ing effect on said work piece from a central portion of said zone and in diverging directions, and a roller arranged directly in front of said central portion to press said work piece against said surface and resist bodily displacement of the work piece from the line of feed.

5. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, a work-feeding means on said frame having a supporting surface for a work piece to be treated and a vertically movable table upon which said work-feeding means is arranged to rest, means for moving said work-feeding means over and in contact with said table beneath a work treatment zone, tools mounted on said frame to impart a spreading effect on said Work piece from a central portion of said zone, a roller arranged directly in back of said central portion yieldingly to press said work piece against said surface, and said roller being movable vertically with said table.

6. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, a work-feeding means on said frame comprising one run of an endless conveyor and a vertically movable table upon which the said run rests for supporting a work piece, means for moving said run over said table and beneath a work treatment zone, tools mounted in X formation on said frame to impart a spreading effect on said work piece from a central portion of said zone, a roller with an absorbent covering arranged directly in back of said central portion yieldingly to press said work piece against said run, and said roller being movable vertically with said table.

7. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, a work-feeding means on said frame comprising a conveyor belt and a vertically movable table backing up one run of said belt to support a work piece, means for moving said run over the table and beneath a work-treatment zone, tools mounted on said frame to move in diverging directions and im art a spreading effect on said w rk piece from a central portion of said zone, rollers with absorbent coverings arranged directly in front and in back of said central portion yieldingly to press said work piece against said belt and one of said rollers being arranged to move vertically with said table.

8. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, sets of individual tools mounted thereon in X formation, each set being arranged to perform work outwardly in said X formation, a conveyor belt adapted to support pieces of work for successive presentation to the sets of tools, a vertically movable table over which the conveyor belt is arranged to slide, said table being adapted to be ra sed and thereby serve as a backing-up member during treatment of the work pieces by said tools, means to move the conveyor during the work-treating operation, and absorbent covered rollers arranged directly front and in back of said X formation yieldingly to press a work piece against said conveyor when said table is in its raised position.

9. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, sets of individual tools mounted thereon in a work treating zone and in X formation, each set being arranged to perform work outwardly in said zone, work-feeding means successively to support Work pieces in said zone including a table which is vertically movable, said table being adapted to serve as a backing up member during treatment of the work pieces by said tools, and an absorbent roller with its axis transverse to the line of feed and arranged directly in back of said tools yieldingly to press a work piece being treated and to raise and lower with said table.

10. In a putting out machine comprising a frame, a vertically movable table mounted on said frame, sets of putting out tools mounted parallel to said table for diverging movement in a horizontal plane, a conveyor belt for transferring a spread-out hide across the surface of the table, rollers covered with absorbent material with their axes transverse to the line of feed and yieldingly movable in a vertical direction to resist bodily displacement of the Work piece from the line of feed when the table is raised to establish contact between the tools and said hide.

11. A machine of the type described in claim 10, in which each tool is supported by a yielding thin metal plate.

DAVID EDGAR.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,920,341 Ballard Aug. 1, 1933 2,366,242 Edgar Jan. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 197,608 Germany Apr. 28, 1908 

